The political system is represented by a complex of institutions, organizations, ideas, interacting in which power is realized. Among the most important institutions of the political system is the state.
Instruction manual
1
The political system is a more comprehensive concept than public administration. It includes individuals and institutions that influence the process of development and adoption of government decisions. The political system integrates in itself everything that is related to politics. It is characterized by ideology, culture, norms, customs and traditions.
2
The political system performs a number of critical functions. Among them are conversion (or the conversion of citizens' requirements into decisions), adaptation (or adaptation of the political system to changing conditions), resource mobilization, consolidation, protection of the political system, resource allocation, international or foreign policy function. A stably functioning system operates on the basis of a feedback mechanism. He suggests that the government makes decisions based on the requirements that are formulated by civil society. Such a mechanism only works in truly democratic societies. Whereas in authoritarian interests, the interests of wide sections are not taken into account, and society cannot influence the decision-making process.
3
Along with the state, the political system also includes other non-governmental and informal institutions. Among them, in particular, political parties, national movements and organizations, the church, local governments, trade unions, youth organizations, etc. The state can act as an arbiter in disputes between these institutions, coordinate and stimulate their activities, as well as prohibit the work of institutions that can destabilize the functioning of the system. The presence of strong non-state institutions in the political system indicates a high level of development of democracy, since this ensures the representation of the interests of wide social strata.
4
The state acts as a key element of the political system, which concentrates diverse political interests. The special role of the state is due to a number of reasons. Possession of power makes it the pivotal element of the system, since it is precisely around power that the political struggle unfolding. The state is the only institution that has the right to legitimate violence and bearer of sovereignty. At the same time, he owns huge material resources that allow him to pursue his own policy.
5
The state among all the institutions of the political system has the widest range of instruments for influencing citizens. In particular, he owns the apparatus of control and coercion, which extend their influence to the whole society. Whereas the possibilities for the influence of political parties on citizens are quite limited. The state expresses the interests of the main part of the population, and the parties - supporters of a certain ideology.
